Joys of Justification

Romans 5:1–11 NKJV

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

Intro:

AG: joy of justification

Justification has results. The justified person has peace and joy, and Paul exults in this.

Leon Lamb Morris

TS: Romans 5 begins with the word “Therefore”.

I once heard, “When you see therefore, you need to pause and consider what it is there for.”

Paul is saying here is the point.

He showed the reader that we are all sinners

He explained that we are justified by faith

Paul has proven that justification is by faith alone, no he turns his attention to countering the idea that although we may be saved by faith, we persevere by our works.

False teachers had been adding works as a means of staying saved.

Paul argues that we are bound eternally to Jesus Christ, preserved by His power and not by human effort.

Now Paul lists 5 results of justification.

RS:

1. The Believer has Peace with God

Romans 5:1 NKJV

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

“having been justified”

Construction of the Greek-

legal declaration- one-time with continuing results

The work Christ has done brings us peace

We have been made at peace with God by His own declaration

This peace is an external objective reality

Before salvation we were enemies, now we are allies!

our war with God is over!

I often marvel at former enemies who become allies:

USA vs. England

We fought for our independence… in the Revolutionary War

Then to keep it in the war of 1812

Yet last century, we were close allies against great evil!

God makes us even closer! He adopts us as children

Scripture calls this being reconciled

2 Corinthians 5:18–20 NKJV

Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.

On the cross divine love and justice were reconciled.

John Robert Walmsley Stott (English Preacher)

2. The Believer Stands in Grace

Romans 5:2 NKJV

through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

This high privilege brings about great confidence and joy concerning the future

We have access to Grace

We have access to God through Jesus Christ

He is...

John 14:6 NKJV

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

There is no other way to God, no other path arrives there.

We STAND

We have a permanent secure position

Standing implies permanence, endurance

HOPE of the glory of GOD-

Unlike English, the Greek word has no doubt

Hope in Greek is something you can take to the bank

We know with 100% assurance that we will share in the glory of God because He justified us!

Ephesians 2:12 NKJV

that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

Ephesians 2:13 NKJV

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

3. The Believer has Assurance from God

Romans 5:3–4 NKJV

And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.

Tribulation-

Troubles come in every life

When we are saved, we are not exempt from that

IN FACT, it intensifies

We will face more trouble because of our relationship with Him.

In spite of tribulation we have assurance

The fact of this assurance

it helps us in time of suffering

Knowing that we know Him changes our perspective on suffering

We know this is temporary.

Our time on Earth, for good or bad, is just a small moment compared to eternity.

Assurance establishes us in this and brings results...

The fruit of this assurance

Suffering begins a chain of benefits:

Suffering, although it is inevitable, it brings about

perseverance

patience, endurance

Like weight training....

We strain and push our muscles to the limit and they grow stronger

Suffering helps grow our endurance

as we gain endurance, that process builds

character

proven character

When you get squeezed, what is inside, comes out

Squeeze lemons you get lemon juice

Squeeze a person… their true character shows

hope

There is that word again

once we have a proven character, we have assurance

The process has worked and assurance has grown

the process is evidence of the reality

4. The Believer is Indwelt by God

Romans 5:5 NKJV

Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

His love has been poured out

His love has been lavishly given to us

The love He grows within us is more evidence that we belong to Him

The Holy Spirit lives in believers

This is done by the Holy Spirit who indwells us

1 John 4:7–10 NKJV

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

5. The Believer is Preserved in God

Christ’s past work on the cross (Ro 5:6-8)

Romans 5:6–8 NKJV

For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

V. 6 He died on the cross for us

In due time.... in God’s preset time

He knew exactly when it would happen

He paid the penalty on our behalf

We were “without strength”

We had no ability to save ourselves

Helpless

v. 7 He died because He loves us

Love motivated Him

He Grew the Tree

“Nothing took His life, with love He gave it”

Paul uses the hypothetical to demonstrate what an amazing thing Christ did for us

Die for a righteous man… sometimes, people inspire us. They impress us and we feel a desire to preserve them

Die for a good man- not as good of a man… less inspiring

Christ went even further with His extravagant love

He died for sinners!

He loved us so much, that even while we were in our sins and enemies, He died for us.

v. 8 He did it when we were still helpless and hostile sinners.

This displays His love

This fact alone should end all doubt about God’s love

Christ’s present work at the right hand of God (Ro 5:9-11)

Romans 5:9–11 NKJV

Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

Paul says Christ died to save us and now lives to keep us saved.

He saved us… He keeps us saved!

He didn’t go through suffering of living on Earth and dying for us just to loose us!

We are justified by His blood and are saved from Wrath through Him

we remain redeemed

His death (blood) & His life save us

He has reconciled us and we will remain reconciled forever

He did all the work in saving us and He does all the work to keep us saved!

Conclusion: